Road-wagon



(No Model.) w 2 sheets-sheet 1'.

- J. VAUGHAN.

ROAD WAGON.

No. 333,364. I Patented Dec. 29, 1885.

. 2 SheetsSheet 2. J. VAUGHAN.

(No Model.)

ROAD WAGON.

Patented Dec. 29, 1885.

NY PLTERS, FhoiwLnhcgnpller, Washington. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES VAUGHAN, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

ROAD-WAGON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333.364, dated December 29, 1885.

Application filed August 3, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMEs VAUGHAN, a citizen of Canada, residing at Danbnry, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Road-Wagons; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it'appertains to makeand use the same.

My invention has for its object to simplify and strengthen the construction of road-wagons, and to so arrange the parts that the weight carried will be evenly destributed, and the 5 vehicle will be easy to ride in with either a light or heavy load, the special advantage of my construction being that the parts are few in number and easy to make, so that I am enabled to produce 'a vehicle of this class which shall be. light, strong, and durable, and may be produced at the minimum expense.

With these ends in view I have devised the simple and novel construction which I will now proceed to describe, and then specifically point out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a front elevation, the string-pieces and springs being in sections on the line a; w in Fig. 2. Fig. 2is a side elevation, the bolster and axle being in section on the liney y in Fig. 3; Fig. 3, a plan view with the body removed; Fig. 4, an enlarged sectional view of the rear axle and bolster, showing the construction of the jack which secures the axle and bolster to thestringpieces; Fig. 5, asection on the linez z in Fig. 4 and corresponding therewith in scale, showing the construction of the clip to which the spring is attached. Figs. 6 and 7 are views corresponding substantially with Fig. 2 of modified forms of springs in which greater strength and carrying power are provided; and Fig. 8 is a view of a still heavier spring, detached.

Similar letters denote the same parts in all the figures.

Ais the front axle, B the rear axle, and O the string-pieces.

D is the body, E the seat, and F the dash- 50 board, which may be of any ordinary construc tion. The body is carried by two metallic Serial No. 173,314. (No model.)

supports, G, to which it is bolted and which in turn are bolted to the string-pieces.

H is the front bolster, to which the stringpieces are directly bolted, and K the rear bolster,to which the string-pieces are attached in a manner which will presently be explained.

L indicates springs which are bolted or clipped to the string-pieces in front of and back of supports G. The front ends of the springs are curved slightly downward, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and are then bent upward and secured to the front bolster by means of hooks M, which engage the bolster under the stringpieces.

N is the king-bolt, and O the upper plates of a set which serves the ordinary purpose of a fifth-wheel. As these plates are not of my invention, further description is not deemed necessary. The rear bolster and axle are secured to the string-pieces by means of jacks, each of which consists, essentially, of parts P, Q, and R. v

P is an angle-piece bolted to the stringpiece and provided with lugs P and a screw- 7 5 thread, P, at its lower end.

Q- is a bolt which passes through the stringpiece back of the axle and bolster, and R is a cross-piece having holes through which the threaded portion of the angle-piece and bolt Q pass.

The parts are all secured together by nuts S, which respectively engage the bolt and the threaded portion of the angle-piece. The rear end of each spring is provided with an eye or loop, L, and is held in position by a bolt, T, which passes through lugs P and through the eye at the end of the spring, the usual clip being dispensed with by making the lugs 1ntegral with the angle-piece.

U indicates braces which extend between the string-pieces and from the string-pieces to the rear axle,for the purpose of giving additional stability to this portion of the vehicle.

It will be seen that in my improved con struction as few parts as possible are used, and that both the metallic and wooden parts may be made very light, as each supportsthe other. This is especially true of the stringpieces and springs, which are so arranged 1n my improved wagonthat downward pressure upon the string pieces is partially taken ICO up by the springs and partially transmitted to the axle or bolster, thus equalizing the pressure of the load in a manner that has never heretofore been accomplished in wagons of this class. When, however, greater strength and carrying-power is required, I place metallic supportingstrips 0 under the spring-pieces, which are preferably held in position by clips 0 as clearly shown in Figs 6 and 7. At their rear ends these supporting-strips are provided with eyes G which are made to slip inside of eyes L upon springs L, both eyes being held in position by bolts T, passing through lugs P.

The front ends of the supporting-strips may be carried forward over hooks M, as shown in Fig. 6, or may only extend to the hooks as shown in Fig, 7. In Fig. 8 I have shown parts L and G as provided with supplemental leaves. In heavier grades of wagons I contemplate using one, and sometimes both, of these supplemental leaves.

I do not of course desire to limit myself to the details of construction that I have shown, as it is obvious that they may be varied within reasonable limits without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, with the front and rear bolsters and axles and string-pieces connecting them, of springs bolted to the string-pieces and bent downward at the ends and secured rigidly to the front and'rear axles or bolsters.

2. The front and rear axles and bolsters and string-pieces connectingthem, in combination with springs secured to the string-pieces both sides of the center, then bent downward at each end and rigidly secured to one of the axles or bolsters.

1 3. The string-pieces, axles, and bolsters, in

combination with springs'secured to the stringpieces both sides of the center, both ends of the springs being bent downward, the forward end having a hook adapted to engage the front bolster, and the rear end having an eye through which a bolt passes to secure it to the rear axle.

V 4. The body and supports G, in combination with the string-pieces to which the supports are bolted, the axles, and springs secured to the stringpieccs both sides of the center, then bent downward and rigidly secured to the axles, the arrangement being such that the springs support the string-pieces and transmit a portion of the pressure to the axles.

5. The combination, with a spring, stringpiece, and the rear axle, of a combined jack and clip consisting of an angle-piece having lugs to which the spring is bolted, and a threaded portion at its lower end, bolt Q, and cross-piece R.

6. The angle-piece having lugs P, and a screw-threaded end, bolt Q, and cross-piece R, in combination with the spring secured to thelugs, andthe string-piece,axle, and bolster.

7. The string-pieces, axles, and springs L, rigidly secured at their ends, in combination with supporting pieces 0, clipped to the string-pieces and springs, and bent down at their rear ends and secured to lugs P upon the axle.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES VAUGHAN.

Witnesses:

A. M. WOOSTER, A. B. FAIROHILD. 

